Attention, Kansas University basketball fans. Enjoy Brandon Rush’s long-range marksmanship and his deft acrobatics through the lane, because this year may serve as the sophomore’s last at KU.

“If he continues to get better and improve,” KU head coach Bill Self said, “there would be a great chance based on my talks with his family that this could happen for him, that this could be his last year at Kansas.”

Several pundits, however, expected Rush to enter the NBA Draft after his freshman season. His accolades spoke for themselves. The Big 12 freshman of the year led KU in points and rebounds. He also became the first freshman in Big 12 history to earn selection on the All-Big 12 first team.

Ultimately, Rush’s late-season slump and the frustration of KU’s upset loss to Bradley in the first round of the NCAA Tournament fueled his return.

“I thought about my team and how we lost out in the first round last season,” Rush said. “I figured I didn’t play so well the last 13 games of the season. So I decided to come back.”

At 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, Rush would create a dilemma for any defender guarding him on the next level. He scored many of his 444 points by driving to the rim, and 150 of them by raining threes from long distance.

“He can do so many things,” guard Brennan Bechard said. “You can’t lay off him because he’ll shoot it. And if you get up on him, he’s going to go by you and get to the rim.”

Despite the myriad skills he displayed during his freshman season, he had one visible hole in his game, which college and NBA opponents could exploit.

“You guys know,” Self said. “He needs to improve his ball handling, and he’s worked hard on that.”

Indeed, Rush worked on his dribbling, drawing fouls and going to his left twice-a-week with sophomore guard and his best friend on the team, Mario Chalmers. The twosome also pumped iron every day, and Rush now can bench press 235 pounds and squat 375.

Brandon Rush will help put plenty of fans in the seats in Allen Fieldhouse during the 2006-07 season. After that, chances are he'll try to do more of the same at the NBA level.

“I’ve improved,” Rush said.

Even if Rush performs the same as last year, the NBA talk would follow him much of the season. Hype has already started with conference coaches selecting him and sophomore Julian Wright as preseason Big 12 co-Players of the Year.

Rush’s roommate, junior Russell Robinson, said Rush’s laid-back style allows the pressure to roll right off.

“There are all types of articles about him going to the NBA, but if you look at him, you’d never know. He doesn’t express it at all,” Robinson said. “He’s pretty mellow.”

Some, though excited about this season’s possibilities, already have started conjuring possible permutations for 2007’s opening-day roster. Wright already has told the Journal-World he’s returning, but what about Chalmers or ballyhooed freshman Darrell Arthur?

“We don’t anticipate everybody coming back next year,” Self said. “Returning all 12 would be very difficult to do based on some of their talent levels.”

Rush, however, has not commented on his plans for next year. And according to Self, the rest is just speculation.

“Didn’t we all assume last year that last year was his last year?” Self said. “There’s no guarantees he’ll leave. There’s no guarantees he’s staying.”